Mets Lose Heartbreaker On Game-Ending Wild Pitch

MIAMI—It was supposed to be a marquee pitching match up between two aces. It was exactly that as both Johan Santana and Josh Johnson shined.

It was also a game of fantastic defense. Angel Pagan, the very first hitter of the game was robbed by Marlins left fielder Chris Coghlan. In the bottom of the first, Chris Coghlan was robbed of a hit by Jose Reyes.

The Mets know they needed to get to Josh Johnson early. They did so by scratching out a run in the second on an RBI single by Rod Barajas.

In the third, the Marlins got the run right back. Gaby Sanchez, who had three hits in the game before being pulled late, led off the inning with a single. After a strike out, pitcher Josh Johnson laid a bunt down. Johan Santana charged the ball and threw to second to try and erase the lead runner but he threw too high. The next batter, Chris Coghlan, singled in the run.

Both pitchers threw up zeros for the rest of their outings. The Marlins had a chance h the fifth after a leadoff infield single but a double play followed that up. In the seventh with two outs, Gaby Sanchez hit a ground-rule double to the deep left field corner. They never scored the run.

In the ninth, the Mets had a golden oppurtunity to take a lead with Luis Castillo leading off with an infield single. He moved to second on a throwing error by second baseman Brian Barden. Reyes flew out, Bay grounded out, and Wright ended the inning with a strike out. Reyes attempted to bunt Castillo over to second but for the second consecutive game, failed to get the bunt down.

In the last of the ninth, Fernando Nieve, in his second inning of work, walked Cody Ross with one out. Ronny Paulino singled him to third and with Dan Uggla pinch-hitting, Nieve threw a wild pitch, allowing Ross to score the game-winning run.

The Mets wasted another solid outing by Santana (7 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 6 H, 5 K). Johnson was just as good (7 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 7 K).

With the loss, the Mets fall to 18-17 on the season and 4-9 on the road.

Series probable pitchers:
May 14
New York: Oliver Perez (2010: 0-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. Florida: Anibal Sanchez (2010: 1-2, 4.08 ERA)
May 15
New York: John Maine (2010: 1-2, 5.45 ERA) vs. Florida: Nate Robertson (2010: 3-3, 4.54 ERA)
May 16
New York: Jon Niese (2010: 1-1, 4.58 ERA) vs. Florida: TBD

Upcoming schedule:
New York Mets:
May 14-16 @ Florida Marlins
May 17-18 @ Atlanta Braves

Florida Marlins:
May 14-16 vs. New York Mets
May 17-18 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks